Korn/Ferry Explores the Impact of Fear on Leadership in Breakthrough New Book, ‘No Fear of Failure’

May 2, 2011

LOS ANGELES, May 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Korn/Ferry International (NYSE: KFY), a premier global provider of talent management solutions, today announced the publication of No Fear of Failure: Real Stories of How Leaders Deal with Risk and Change (www.nofearoffailure.com), published byJossey-Bass. The book takes readers behind-the-scenes and offers exclusive access to 12 of the world’s prominent leaders – giving insight on the attributes that have driven their success and how they have personally dealt with fear and failure.

Authored by Gary Burnison, CEO of Korn/Ferry, the book provides a front-seat view into leadership at the highest levels – from the world of business and politics to education and philanthropy. In one-on-one, face-to-face conversations, each leader in No Fear of Failure gives a first-person account of how they handled (often very publicly) war, economic downturn, corporate turnover and even retirement.

“One of the amazing similarities these leaders share is a deep inner serenity that comes from accepting the inevitability of failure. Success instilled confidence in each of them, but their failures imparted wisdom,” explained Burnison. “Unfortunately, humans cannot see the future; tragedies occur and failure happens. However, it’s not what you do at the moment of failure, it’s what you do after that counts.”

The book includes compelling interviews with Michael Bloomberg (New York City Mayor), Carlos Slim (entrepreneur and the world’s richest man), Indra Nooyi (CEO of PepsiCo), Vicente Fox (former president of Mexico), Drew Gilpin Faust (first female president of Harvard University), Eli Broad (billionaire philanthropist), Anne Mulcahy (former CEO of Xerox), Lt. General Franklin L. “Buster” Hagenbeck (retired superintendent of West Point and three-star general who led ground forces in Afghanistan), Coach John McKissick (the most wins of any coach in football), Liu Chuanzhi (founder of Lenovo in China), Daniel Vasella (chairman of Novartis) and Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo (former CEO of Nokia).

“With brilliance and clarity drawn from first-hand experience with some of the world’s most celebrated leaders, Gary Burnison has written one of the most important and useful books for 21st century leaders,” said Warren Bennis, Distinguished Professor of Business, USC.

About Korn/Ferry International

Korn/Ferry International, with a presence throughout the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, is a premier global provider of talent management solutions. Based in Los Angeles, the firm delivers an array of solutions that help clients to attract, deploy, develop and reward their talent. Visit www.kornferry.com for more information on the Korn/Ferry International family of companies, and www.kornferryinstitute.com for thought leadership, intellectual property and research.